Local News
Submitted photo: Christy Coughlin, volunteer Jacob Keith, Prairie Grit staff member DJ Randolph, and Wyatt Rollman play an inclusive game of curling.
Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports in Minot has been awarded $250,000 from Bush Prize: North Dakota.
Krystal Butgereit, executive director at Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports, said the award is flexible, which means it can be used however needed to continue to advance and enhance the mission and services in the community. She said the recognition from the Bush Prize matters because it “recognizes a track record of creative, collaborative community problem solving. For us, it affirms the importance of listening to participants and families and working with partners to remove barriers to participation.”
Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports provides adaptive sports, therapy services and works with the community on inclusivity. Its work is about belonging and accessibility, helping people with disabilities to participate in sports and wellness. The organization recently merged with the Minot Family YMCA to further its community building mission and is located in the same building. Since merging with the Minot Family YMCA, Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports has furthered its wellness opportunities, growing its therapy services to include adult therapy and mental health services.
Butgereit said the approach Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports takes is different.
“We build partnerships that make inclusion part of the community. Our merger with the Minot Family YMCA brings adaptive services and a community wellness facility together. It combines the strengths of both organizations and helps sustain a place where people of all abilities can participate,” she said.
Butgereit highlighted the importance of the organization’s work and the impact it has on the lives of the participants.
“For many Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports participants, the impact goes far beyond learning a new sport. It’s about finding a place where they belong, discovering what their bodies can do, and building confidence that carries into everyday life. While playing sled hockey, one child was able to learn a new sport with the use of adaptive equipment, make friends while doing it, belong to a team and compete,” she said, noting this is just one of many stories of lives touched by the work of Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports.
“This recognition belongs to the people who make Prairie Grit possible,” Butgereit said. “We’re grateful to Strengthen ND and the Bush Foundation, and we invite people to learn more, participate, volunteer or support inclusive opportunities in our community.”
The Bush Prize: North Dakota was introduced in 2012, according to Kari Ruth, Bush Foundation communications director. It is managed by Strengthen ND in partnership with the Bush Foundation. The prize is awarded to nonprofit organizations with high community involvement and that have been shown to be successful in missions of community problem solving. The award goes toward strengthening operations and services and starting new services.
Sheyenne GRIT in Sheyenne also received a $250,000 award to support local priorities such as housing improvements, Main Street revitalization and business growth.
“There is so much to celebrate about the work happening across North Dakota,” according to a statement released by the Bush Foundation. “Every day, organizations are showing up for their communities, finding creative ways to meet challenges and making a real difference. The Bush Prize gives us an opportunity to shine a light on that extraordinary work. We’re excited to celebrate this year’s winners, and we hope their stories inspire other organizations across North Dakota to recognize the value of what they’re doing, think boldly about what’s possible and keep moving their communities forward.”
